Some of the problems with the way knowledge is sought today (contd.)

5) Not submitting oneself to Allah

The whole purpose of life is to worship Allah, which means we need to submit to His orders. So, if we seek knowledge, that means we want to increase in worship and submission.

The people of the past differed AFTER the knowledge came to them. Before that, they were one big happy family following falsehood. After the truth came, they split up into two parties: one following the truth and one opposing it.

“And indeed We settled the Children of Israel in an honourable dwelling place , and provided them with good things, and they differed not until the knowledge came to them. Verily, Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection in that in which they used to differ.” [Surah Yunus (10) : 93]

“But if they answer you not (i.e. do not believe in your doctrine of Islamic Monotheism, nor follow you), then know that they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allah? Verily! Allah guides not the people who are dhaalimoon (wrong-doers, disobedient to Allah, and polytheists).” [Surah Al-Qasas (28) : 50]

And He has stated that Paradise is the abode for the one who stops himself from following his desires:

فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَىٰ

وَآثَرَ‌ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا

فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ

وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَ‌بِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ

فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ

“Then, for him who Taghaa (transgressed all bounds, in disbelief, oppression and evil deeds of disobedience to Allah). And preferred the life of this world (by following his evil desires and lusts), Verily, his abode will be Hell-fire;

But as for him who feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure evil desires, and lusts. Verily, Paradise will be his abode.” [Surah An-Naaziat (79) : 37-41]

That is because submission (not just verbally but action-wise as well) to the commands of Allah is a sign of true belief.

“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.” [Surah Al-Ahzab (33) : 36]

“But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” [Surah An-Nisaa (4) : 65]

We cannot put our own opinions above that of the Quran and the Sunnah – otherwise our good deeds might be wiped out.

“O you who believe! Do not put (yourselves) forward before Allah and His Messenger, and fear Allah. Verily! Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk as you speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds may be rendered fruitless while you perceive not.” [Surah Al-Hujurat (49) : 1-2]

When do we raise our voices against someone? Generally when we are arguing and we want to get the upper hand. Can a believer ever want this with regards to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)???

One of the other ways that a person “unsubmits” (if you will) is by asking too many questions with regards to the religion:

Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu): The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “What I have forbidden for you, avoid. What I have ordered you [to do], do as much of it as you can. For verily, it was only the excessive questioning and their disagreeing with their Prophets that destroyed [the nations] who were before you.”[Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 5818]

Please note: This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t learn more about Islam, rather it means that we shouldn’t be asking questions like “Oh, but why has Allah commanded this? or “Why does Islam have this rule?”

These are completely disastrous statements and they are a road to disbelief.

We need to understand that Islam was revealed by Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, the All Knowing, the All Wise, the One who is free from all imperfection, so Islam too is perfect.

However, our intellects, desires, thoughts, cultures, etc are not perfect so why should we give preference to them over the words of Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)?? Who are we really worshipping? Allah or our desires??

“Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his ilaah (god), and Allah knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight. Who then will guide him after Allah? Will you not then remember?” [Surah Al-Jaathiyah (45) : 23]

The following saying of Ali (radiallahu anhu) really sums up this whole issue:

Ali (radiallahu) said: “Were this religion based on personal opinion, the bottom of the khuff (leather sock) would have more right to be wiped than the top part, and (yet) I saw the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) wipe over the top of his khuffs.”[Sunan Abee Dawood, Hadeeth No. 162. Graded ‘sahih’ by Al-Albani in Sahih Sunan Abee Dawood, Hadeeth No. 162.]

So, if we really love Allah and we want to worship Him, we do as the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did, not the way our error prone intellects dictate.

Now many people might say “Oh but I love Allah! That is the most important thing, not following all these commands.”

One of my teachers, Ustadh Aziz Farhan, pointed something very amazing. He pointed out that iman (belief) is not in just loving Allah, because even the kuffar (disbelievers) do that:

“And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else). If only, those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is Severe in punishment.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (2) : 165]

This ayah makes it clear that even the kuffar love Allah (whilst attributing partners to Him in this love) so just “loving Allah” doesn’t make one a believer. He pointed out that a person enters iman when he loves what Allah loves.

Some scholars also pointed out something else. They said that it is not important whether you love Allah or not (because everyone claims this!) but what is important is whether Allah loves you or not.

Many people keep saying “Oh I love this so I don’t see the problem with it”. They think that because they love it that Allah should love it! How far is this from true submission. Rather true submission is making oneself love what Allah loves.

Let us all ponder over the above and measure ourselves by these standards.

After much thought, I realised that there were four types of people with regards to accepting the truth and submitting to Allah. If you disagree, please do say so:

1) The ones who know the truth, accept it wholeheartedly and apply it.

These are are the people who accept the commands of Allah, no matter what they are.

When they seek knowledge and come across something in the Quran and Sunnah which opposes what they know, they leave what they know and accept the words of Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).

Of course, the best examples of those who submit wholeheartedly are the Prophets (alaihimissalam) and the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).

2) The ones who know the truth, accept it but struggle to apply it.

These would be the sinful believers.

They do accept the truth but because their desires overtake them from time to time, they struggle to practice Islam to their full degree.

3) The ones who reject the truth and make it apparent.

This would include those who reject Islam completely and leave it (i.e. apostates) and also those who reject some ahadeeth of the Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) or some laws of Islam because it goes against their pre-existing beliefs.

[Obviously these two groups have two different rulings. Apostates are disbelievers whereas the latter need not be.]

4) The ones who reject the truth but don’t make it apparent. They try to distort the truth.

This group is the most dangerous one. They don’t openly say that they reject the truth, rather they claim that we need to reinterpret Islam according to the 21st century and that we need to throw out 14 centuries worth of Islamic scholarship!

Sadly, this group, may Allah guide them, is making a big impression amongst the laymen due to their smooth tongues and due to the fact that many people lack the correct knowledge and understanding of Islam.

Let me give you an example of each group with regards to the hijab (veil):

– Group #1 submits to this command and wears it

– Group #2 knows that it is an obligation but they are unable to wear it at the present time due to the weakness of iman.

– Group #3 openly rejects the fact that hijab is from Islam and states that it is a cultural thing.

– Group #4 states that the ayah regarding hijab has been mistranslated and that hijab is a “male interpretation” of the Quran. Apparently, the women are just supposed to dress modestly and cover their bosoms.

[As I said, this part was with regards to what I have seen so I could be wrong. Any corrections or suggestions will be appreciated .]

So, how can we submit to Allah?

– Well, we need to remove any preconceived notions and seek knowledge with a blank mind and a heart that is ready to accept the truth.

– We need to understand that the priorities are what Allah says they are, not what our opinions say.

For example, reformation of the self and of the ummah (nation) is done according to the Sunnah, not according to the thoughts of those who talk without knowledge and think that they have the right to do so simply because of some worldly knowledge or success that they’ve had.

– We might not immediately agree with something in the Quran and the Sunnah but we need to train our souls to accept it.

Remember: Islam is perfect so our disagreeing with it doesn’t make it any less perfect. It just means that we have increased our chances of going to Hell.

– We need to remember what we’re getting in exchange for this submission: everlasting bliss.

“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test).” [Surah Al-Ankabut 29 : 2-3]

– Most importantly, we need to ask Allah to make us steadfast because anyone can get misguided.

There are many people who thought they were guided and this is what Allah says about them:

قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِالْأَخْسَرِ‌ينَ أَعْمَالًا

Say (O Muhammad): “Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds!” [Surah Al-Kahf (18) : 103-104]

“And whosoever turns away (blinds himself) from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allah) (i.e. this Quran and worship of Allah), We appoint for him Shaitan (Satan;­ devil) to be a Qareen (an intimate companion) to him.

And verily, they (Satans / devils) hinder them from the Path (of Allah), but they think that they are guided aright!

Till, when (such a one) comes to Us, he says [to his Qareen (Satan / devil companion)] “Would that between me and you were the distance of the two easts (or the east and west)” a worst (type of) companion (indeed)!

It will profit you not this Day (O you who turn away from Allah’s remembrance and His worship, etc.) as you did wrong, (and) that you will be sharers (you and your Qareen) in the punishment.

Can you (O Muhammad) make the deaf to hear, or can you guide the blind or him who is in manifest error?” [Surah Az-Zukhruf (43) : 36-40]

The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), the best of men, used to ask Allah to keep his heart steadfast.

Shahr ibn Hawshab said: “I said to Umm Salamah: ‘O Mother of the Believers! What was the supplication that the Messenger of Allah (salallahu alaihi wasallam) said most frequently when he was with you?’

She said: ‘So I said: “O Messenger of Allah, why do you supplicate so frequently: ‘O Changer of hearts, keep my heart steadfast on Your religion.’?

He said: ‘O Umm Salamah! Verily, there is no human being except that his heart is between Two Fingers of the Fingers of Allah, so whomever He wills He makes steadfast, and whomever He wills He causes to deviate.”‘

فتلا معاذ

رَ‌بَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا

So (one of the narrators) Muadh recited: “O our Lord, do not cause our hearts to deviate after You have guided us. [Surah Aal-Imran (3) : 8]”

“Is one who is obedient to Allah, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of his Lord (like one who disbelieves)? say: “Are those who know equal to those who know not?” It is only men of understanding who will remember” [Surah Az-Zumar (39): 9]

Notice how Allah starts by mentioning the night prayer and then states “those who know. This means that the ones who know are the ones who APPLY their knowledge, not just those who gather information.

The people of the past used to have access to the knowledge and did not apply it – and Allah compares them to donkeys!

“The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Taurah (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practice its legal laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey who carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them). How bad is the example (or the likeness) of people who deny the Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah. And Allah guides not the people who are dhaalimoon (polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers, etc.).” [Surah Al-Jumuah (62) : 5]

Brothers and sisters, we need to remember that we will be asked about this issue and we won’t be able to run away from the questioning.

Ibn Masud (radiallahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The feet of the son of Adam will not move from before his Lord, until he is asked about five things: about his life and what he did with it, about his youth and what he wore it out in, about his wealth and how he earned it and spent it on, and what he did with what he knew.” [Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Hadeeth No. 2416. Graded “sahih” by Al-Albani in Sahih Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Hadeeth No. 2416.]

Abu Barzah Al-Aslami (radiallahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The feet of the slave of Allah shall not move (on the Day of Judgment) until he is asked about five things: about his life and what he did with it, about his knowledge and what he did with it, about his wealth and how he earned it and where he spent it on, and about his body and what he wore it out in.”[Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Hadeeth No. 2417. Graded “sahih” by Al-Albani in Sahih Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Hadeeth No. 2417.]

We need to be like the righteous people of the past. They applied their knowledge to the fullest degree.

“I (Saad ibn Hisham) said: Mother of the Believers, tell me about the character of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). She said: Don’t you read the Quran? I said: Yes. Upon this she said: The character of the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) was the Quran.”[Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 1623]

“He said: “O my people! Tell me, if I have a clear evidence from my Lord, and He has given me a good sustenance from Himself (shall I corrupt it by mixing it with the unlawfully earned money). I wish not, in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you. I only desire reform so far as I am able, to the best of my power. And my guidance cannot come except from Allah, in Him I trust and unto Him I repent.”” [Surah Hud (11) : 88]

[However, please do NOT leave off seeking knowledge just because you feel you have “not benefited” or are not applying everything that you learn. This article will ease your mind.]

Abu Musa (radiallahu anhu) reported Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) as saying: “The similitude of that guidance and knowledge with which Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, has sent me is that of rain falling upon the earth. There is a good piece of land which receives the rainfall (eagerly) and as a result of it there is grown in it herbage and grass abundantly. Then there is a land hard and barren which retains water and the people derive benefit from it and they drink it and make the animals drink. Then there is another land which is barren. Neither water is retained in it, nor is the grass grown in it. And that is the similitude of the first one who develops the understanding of the religion of Allah and it becomes a source of benefit to him with which Allah sent me. (The second one is that) who acquires the knowledge of religion and imparts it to others. (Then the other type is) one who does not pay attention to (the revealed knowledge) and thus does not accept guidance of Allah with which I have been sent.”[Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 5668]